Japan approves 20 trillion yen plan for disaster-resilient infrastructure

TOKYO: The Japanese government on Friday approved a plan to enhance the disaster resilience of the country’s infrastructure over the next five years, with the project expected to cost more than 20 trillion yen ($139 billion), Kyodo News reported.

Focusing on measures to address aging infrastructure, the plan specifies 326 measures to be taken by government bodies from fiscal 2026 through 2030, while regional authorities bear part of the costs.

The approval by the Cabinet comes in light of prolonged water outages following a powerful earthquake that devastated the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day in 2024, and the formation of a massive sinkhole in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, neighboring Tokyo, which is believed to have been caused by sewer pipe corrosion.

Video of the aftermath of the earthquake that just hit Japan’s Noto peninsula, shared by someone who works for the Matsunami Sake brewery: pic.twitter.com/MyZYCfH444

— Jeffrey J. Hall (@mrjeffu) January 1, 2024

According to the plan, 10.6 trillion yen will be allocated for the maintenance of vital services, which include aging infrastructure, such as transportation, communication, and energy. All sewer pipes with corrosion or damage that could lead to accidents will be repaired by fiscal 2030.

The repair rate of the approximately 92,000 bridges managed by the central and local governments that require urgent attention will be raised from 55 per cent in fiscal 2023 to 80 per cent in fiscal 2030, with the aim of full completion in fiscal 2051.

Meanwhile, 5.8 trillion yen will be used for disaster prevention infrastructure, including erosion control dams to prevent landslides and river embankments amid increasingly severe flooding caused by climate change. An additional 1.8 trillion yen goes to enhancing disaster preparedness through measures, including installing air conditioners at schools that serve as evacuation centres. (ANI/WAM)